Meet the team!

Do you long to have a relaxing walk, meet with friends and have your dog by your side?

But you end up feeling deflated, anxious and feel like you're letting your best friend down?

Hi I am Alex and I help dogs and their hard working owners to live in harmony with one another.

It all started with Captain...

I started my journey with a big and bouncy rescue Golden Retriever called Captain in 1993. Captain was a bundle of fun, but always getting into mischief! He drove my poor Dad up the wall with his antics! My funniest memory with him (but not so funny for my Dad) was when my Dad was doing the undesirable task of digging out the dog waste toilet that hadn't worked properly. He popped upstairs for a few minutes, but whilst he was out of sight Captain decided to do some excavating of his own and dug in the pile of poo! When my dad came back Captain, ran in the house covered in poo, covering the house and then greeted my dad excitedly covering him as well!

We took him to training classes, but they said he was too naughty to stay and called him “the fog," so we were politely asked to leave.

I knew he was such a clever boy, with so much potential, I just needed to find the best way of training him so he could keep himself out of trouble and begin focusing and listening to me.

My enthusiasm was ignited, I read every book I could find on the subject, and signed myself up to loads of courses. He loved to learn, and together we trained and laughed and found our way!

My career began...

I was working as a veterinary nurse at the time, but dog training and behaviour was my real passion and in 2001 I followed my dream, by getting a job as a guide dog mobility specialist at guide dogs.

Working for guide dogs has given me a real solid foundation into the world of dog training, and I continue to work for them now, and absolutely love my job. However it wasn’t until my anxious and reactive dog came into my life that I could gain a real understanding of the loneliness and struggles that us anxious/reactive dog owners go through.

Building on my knowledge (qualifications) and understanding I continued to delve deeper into the underlying emotions that my dog was going through, so I could help him navigate life in a human world.

Dotty dogs begins...

I realised that there were so many other owners out there going through the same challenges I have been through, and that I could reach out and help them to gain a good understanding of their dogs behaviour, with empathy and real understanding, so Dotty Dogs was born!

If you are reading this and are in need of some support, please reach out to me and get in touch. I will listen with empathy and understanding, and talk in a language you can understand.

I will give you honest and reliable advice and work with you to get the best possible outcome for your dog.

Behaviour change takes time, but I will help you and your dog through a clear program giving realistic goals and non judgmental support.

Hi, I’m George, Dotty dog’s newest trainer!

My life with dogs began as a child with two bouncy boxers in the family, Bruno and Murphy.

I spent hours in the garden playing games with them, running around with balls or playing with the garden hose. They were so patient and tolerant, to me they were the best dogs in thewhole world! However, this all changed when out on a walk.

The friendly, tolerant dogs I knew from the house suddenly became strangers to me. They would pull on the lead, bark at passersby and be very reactive to other dogs. How could this be? Where had the friendly, happy and loving family dogs I knew gone? These early experiences first sparked my interest in training and behavior...

Over the years we had several dogs in the family, from spaniels and hounds, terriers to lurchers, and a few wonderful crossbreeds and rescues. All these dogs came with their own individual needs and quirks. Having experience with lots of different dogs has taught me to always consider the individual needs of the dog, their needs as a dog, a breed and as an individual all play a part in my approach to training.

Fast forward through the years and my professional career working with dogs has taken me from studying canine health and nutrition, welfare, behavior and training, to volunteering in rescue and now as part of the Dotty Dogs family. The best part of my job as a trainer is seeing the progress dogs and their guardians make together. During our fun sessions we will work together to get the best possible outcome for you, and your dog. Throughout our time working together I will always be available for advice and support.

To find out more please look through our services and book a free discovery call We look forward to meeting you!